Research Information

SEIU Archivist Job Description: Archivist I

Posted March 12th, 2018 by mcourtney

Note: Applications received by April 8 will receive first consideration.

Wayne State University seeks a knowledgeable, innovative, service-oriented individual for the position of SEIU Archivist at the Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs. Located in the heart of Detroit’s Midtown Cultural Center, Wayne State University is a Carnegie I research university that enrolls more than 32,000 students. The Reuther Library collects, preserves, and provides access to historical records documenting the modern American labor movement, the social and political development of southeastern Michigan, and the history of Wayne State University.

The Archives for the Service Employees International Union document the evolution of the union from its origins in 1921 as the Building Service Employees International Union to the present. During its history, this union has organized service workers employed as janitors, healthcare workers, security guards, public sector workers, office workers, elevator operators, window cleaners, groundskeepers, doormen, and stadium employees, amongst others. The union currently organizes 2.1 million members in these and numerous other service industries.

The collaborative relationship between the Reuther Library and SEIU began in the early 1980s, and the Reuther Library became SEIU’s official repository in 1992. Since then, the Reuther has collected the records of the union’s international headquarters in Washington D. C., some locals, and the personal papers of prominent union officials.

This externally-funded position will be hired at the rank of Archivist I and reports to the Director of the Reuther Library. It is an AAUP-AFT represented position with eligibility for promotion.

The Wayne State University Library System embraces an environment of inclusion that moves beyond simple tolerance to recognizing the richness in individual identities of people and diverse perspectives. Wayne State University is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Responsibilities
1. Provides access to the institutional history of SEIU through the appraisal, arrangement, description, and preservation of its records and the creation of finding aids, inventories, databases, or other reference tools;
2. Assists SEIU with records management and electronic records;
3. Interacts with SEIU, serving as their main contact for reference. May include occasional travel to SEIU’s international and affiliate headquarters regarding their records program and related projects;
4. Performs extensive outreach with an aim to disseminate information about the SEIU Archives to the public;
5. Creates and manages digital content for the Reuther Library’s website;
6. Participates in general reference services in the Reuther Library reading room;
7. Participates actively in the shared decision-making for library planning, resource management, and program and policy development;
8. Trains and supervises students, volunteers, and interns assigned to work with the SEIU Archives;
9. Actively participates in the archival profession through presentations, publications, and/or active membership in professional organizations;
10. Performs other related duties as assigned

Required:
1. Master’s degree from an accredited institution in library/information science, archival administration, history, or a related field, with graduate archival study;
2. Demonstrated experience in an archives, special collections, or records repository arranging and describing print and electronic collections, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, which must include demonstrated production of descriptive outputs applying appropriate archival or library standards, such as DACS, EAD, EAC-CPF, LCSH, MARC, Dublin Core, or METS;
3. Clear understanding of issues related to digital records management and electronic records archiving;
4. Experience using archival content management tools such as ArchivesSpace, Archivist’s Toolkit, or Archon;
5. Familiarity with American labor history or social history;
6. Demonstrated ability to work with a wide range of users, donors, and constituencies;
7. Excellent interpersonal, organizational, written and oral communication skills;
8. Ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks and work effectively, both independently and collaboratively, in a collegial environment;
9. Demonstrated initiative, self-direction, and a commitment to innovation, creativity, and excellence;
10. Demonstrated commitment to expanding skills and professional growth;
11. Ability to meet expectations for promotion as part of the Reuther Library academic staff;
12. Demonstrated ability to understand the perspectives of others and acknowledge the differences, complexities and opportunities in those backgrounds, cultures, values and viewpoints even when he/she is not familiar or disagrees with them;
13. An awareness of multicultural issues and a broad knowledge of diversity across the information industry. The willingness and ability to lead, serve, engage others in a multicultural environment;
14. Ability to lift 40 lbs independently or with assistance.